Link to Handout – Particular Baptist Theological Society (2026)

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Primary source: 

• Benjamin Keach, A Golden Mine Opened: Or, The Glory of God’s Rich Grace Displayed in the Mediator to Believers: And His Direful Wrath against Impenitent Sinners. Containing the Substance of Forty Sermons upon Several Subjects (London: William Marshall, 1694), 269–284. PRDL Link

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7,342 words

[page 269] JOHN X. 28.

And I give unto them eternal Life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand.

[Sermon XIV.] BRETHREN, there are but two Arguments more that I intend to insist upon, for the farther Proof and Demonstration of the Saints final Perseverance; or to prove, That none of the Saints or Sheep of Christ, can so sin and fall away as eternally to perish.

I spoke the last Day to the Effects of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ: I might proceed to speak to the Intercession of Christ also, but I shall take that in the Arguments I shall next enter upon. 

[9th Arg. taken from their being in the Hand of the Father, and in Christ’s Hand.] Ninthly, The Saints are in the Hand of the Father, and in the Hand of the Son considered as Mediator. 

And from hence I shall prove, That it is impossible they should so fall away as eternally to perish. 

[page 270] First, I shall shew you in what respect they may be said to be in the Hand of the Father; and what is meant by his Hand, and how that doth secure them. 

Secondly, Shew you what is meant by their being in the Hand of the Son; and shew you how that may be said also to secure their firm standing, and tend to their final Perseverance. 

Thirdly, Shew you in what respect they may be said to be in Christ’s Hand. 

First, By the Hand of the Father, doth intend his Power: Behold, the Lord’s Hand is not shortned that he cannot save [Isa. 9:1.]: As if God should say, I am not grown weaker than formerly, I am God Almighty still, and as Onmipotent as ever. Hand here, and so in my Text, by a Synecdoche, is put for Strength or Power. So also Isa. 50. 2. Is my Hand shortned at all that it cannot redeem? or have I not Power to deliver? Behold, at my Rebuke I dry up the Sea, I make the Rivers a Wilderness, &c. Read the next Words following my Text, My Father which gave them me, is greater than all, and none is able to pluck them out of my Father’s Hand.

Secondly, By the Hand of the Father may denote God’s eternal Purpose, or his Counsel; for and sometimes is put for the Purpose or Counsel of God: To do whatsoever thy Hand and thy Counsel determined to do [Acts 4:28]. And if it may thus be taken here, then this may be the Sense of it, viz. All the Elect, all the Sheep and Lambs of Christ are, by God’s eternal Purpose and Council ordained to Eternal Life, and none can pluck them out of his Election, or change his Purpose: For like as the Death of Christ was determined by the Hand or Counsel of God, so were the Effects thereof, I mean, what Persons should be saved thereby, even all and every one of them that he had given unto his Son as he is Mediator. The Design and Purpose of God, by Jesus Christ, was to save all the Elect; and the End and Design of Christ’s Death cannot be frustrated, they are in God’s Hand, that is, it is his Purpose and Counsel to save them; and his Counsel shall stand, and he will do all his Pleasure.

1. All the Counsels of God then from eternity, and all his Promises and Declarations that hold forth those Counsels, having a special Relation to Christ’s dying for his People, and their actual Salvation, must and shall have their absolute Accomplishment; for he End of a thing is that for which the thing it self is: And [page 271] had it not been for that, the thing had never been at all, it being that the chief Agent principally aimed at, and purposed to bring about. 

2. Therefore the Salvation of Christ’s Saints must be certain, from the consideration of the Immutability of God, in which the Perfection of his Divine Nature shines forth, and requireth a correspondent Affection of all the internal and External Acts of his Mind and Will. 

3. From his Soveraignty, in making good and executing all his Purposes, which will not admit of any Mixtures of Consults as among Men, (the Lord may do what he will with his Creatures, we are but as Clay in his Hand; and such as he will make Vessels of Honour, who shall contradict him or resist his Will?) Shall any change God’s Mind, or render his Thoughts liable to Alteration? Also is it not from his Sovereign and Distinguishing Grace to some, that makes the Apostle break out, O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his Judgments, and his Ways past finding out! [Rom. 11:33] 

4. If we consider how his absolute Purposes doth excite his Omnipotency to the actual accomplishing of them, who can once suppose any one Believer should miscarry! The Lord of Hofts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand [Isa. 14:24]. As God is able to do whatsoever he hath purposed, so we may assure our selves there is nothing that shall fail which is according to his determinate Counsel; He is of one Mind, and who can turn him?

5. And what Folly and unreasonable Incredulity is it once to imagine, there should be any manner of suspending the Acts and Purposes of the Will of God, upon any actings of the Creatures whatsoever, seeing it cannot be done without subjecting eternity to Time, and the Will of Man to the Will of God, or the First Cause to the Second, the Lord to the Servant? 

6. Now then seeing God hath taken the Salvation of his Elect into his own Hand, Power, and eternal Purpose, and hath been at such vast Expence of Rich Treasurere, in order to the accomplishing of his great Design herein, who can imagine that any one of his Saints should miss of Everlasting Life? Suppose a Prince should have a wonderful Project in Hand, which he carries on with the advice of his Council, to make so many of his Subjects that his Love and Affections are let cut upon, Great and happy on Earth; and in doing of which, should expend all, or the greatest [page 272] part of his own Riches, nay, sacrifice his own Son; Would he, after all, (if he could help it) suffer his Design to miscarry in the Advancement of any one of them? Or should a most wise and cunning Artist, contrive a curious Piece of Workmanship, which might cost him thousands, it being his whole Work, and taking up all his Time, for forty or fifty Years, to bring it to Perfection; suppose it be a rare Piece of Clock-work, would he suffer any one part of it to be disjointed from the rest by an Enemy, whilst he look’d on, if he could prevent it, or were it in the Power of his Hand? Alas, what are all the rarest, the richest or most curious things in Nature, that are or ever have been in the World, to this Work of God in the Redemption and Salvation of his Chosen Ones? What Treasurer hath he spent, (as I may say)? hath it not cost him the parting with the Pearl of great Price, even the breaking of it into pieces, that so he might enrich and make great and glorious every one of his Elect? Nay, and after he hath curiously formed his own Image upon each of their Souls, to the Joy and wonder of the Holy Angeles, and to the Perplexity and Sorrow of Devils, and this as the Contrivance of his eternal Council; will he, after all, think you, suffer Satan to deface this his Image in the Soul of any one of them, and so spoil and bring to nought part of that glorious, expensive, and curious Piece of his own Workmanship, which was the absolute Result of his Council to compleat and deliver from miscarrying from all eternity? Now then seeing that all the Elect, or all true Believers, are thus in the Father’s Hand, viz. put under his Absolute and eternal Decree and Purpose, to save, through Jesus Christ, what can obstruct or hinder this God from effecting of his own Glorius Design herein? To talk of Conditional Purposes concerning Perseverance, saith Dr. Owen, are either impossible, implying Contradictions, or ludicrous, even to an unfitness for a Stage. See the 29th Verse, My Father that gave them me, is greater than all; and none can pluck them out of my Father’s Hand.

My Father, as if Christ should say, is equally concerned with me about my Saints Perservation, and final Perseverance; and they are in his Hand, he hath put them into his own Power, and he is greater than all, he is greater than me as I am Mediator, tho as God I and my Father are one; tho he hath put them into my Hand, as I am Mediator and their Surety, yet he hath not let go his own hold of them, he will see not one of them be lost for whom I lay down my Life. If any would get them out of my Father’s Hand, it [page 273] must be against his Will, his Purpose, his Decree, and they must do it by Force, by Violence, they must pluck them or rend them out of my Father’s Hand: Mind the word pluck twice mentioned; Neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father’s Hand. Not that any are able to pluck them out of the Hand of Christ as Mediator: But our Saviour adds that, in this 29th Verse, as a farther Confirmation, and as an assurance of their safe standing. Who is too strong for Omnipotence it self? Can any bring his Counsel to nought, or destroy such that he holds in the Hand of his eternal Decree, in the hand of his Everlasting Love and Affection, and also in the Hand of his amazing, inconceivable and irresistable Power? That Enemy that will destroy one Saint, must be a match for the Infinite God, and overcome him, and rob him of his chiefest Treasurer, or of his precious Jewels. O who dares to say this can be done! Well then, assure your selves, that not one Sheep of Christ can perish: Sin must be stronger than God if it destroys one of the Elect; and Satan more mighty, greater in Power than God: which to think is Blasphemy. Why should our Saviour here add, My Father is greater than all, were it not to signify the impossibility of their perishing, or to shew how impossible it is that any Enemy should destroy them? 

Thirdly, By their being in the Father’s Hand, may be meant Jesus Christ, who is called the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God [1 Cor. 1:18]; because by and through him, God exerts his Power, or his Strength to save; or the Glory of his Power is manifested, as well as of all his other Attributes. Sin seem’d to eclipse the Power of God in saving his People, because Divine Power could not save in a way of Omnipotence, to the Impeachment of his Justice and Holines; but in Christ Justice and Holiness is as much magnified as Mercy and Goodness; and thereby so too, that the Power of God might shine forth in its full Glory: Father, glorify thy Name, saith Christ [John 12:28]. Then came a voice from Heaven, saying, I have both glorified it and will glorify it: Thy Name, that is, however thou art made known, or glorify all thy Glorius Attributes. Almighty Power was seen in creating the World; and also as it wrought in conjunction with Divine Justice, it shone forth in casting the Angeles out of Heaven, and Adam out of Paradise; as also in the Flames of Sodom:And as Divine Power joined with Divine Mercy and Goodness, it shone forth in saving the Israelites at the Red Sea. But the strength and [page 274] Glory of every Attribute never shone forth in their equal brightness and splendour, as all are united and in conjunction together, and meet in sweet Harmony, as they do in the saving of Man by Jesus Christ; so that Jesus Christ may be well called the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God. Christ is the first-born of every Creature [Col. 1:15]: And as the First-born is the Strength of the Parent, so is Christ the Strength of God. The transcendent Excellencies and Glories of the Divine Being, that were scattered (as it were) in the Creation, are all united and gathered in Christ; that like as when a bundle of Rods united and bound up together cannot be broke, or as so united are very strong, so God in Christ shines forth, as having all his Glorius Perfections united in one; and in this sense Believers may be said to be in the Father’s Hand, and so that none can pluck them out, God hereby appearing in his united strength. And thus Christ may be said to be, that Branch that God hath made strong for himself [Psal. 80:15]. And again, The Man of thy right Hand, the Son of Man whom thou hast made strong for thy self, in whom thou shewest the greatness of thy Power to save, or to manifest his Almighty Power by. O what a Hand is the Hand of God in Christ! Who can pull one Soul out of the Father’s Hand, or out of Christ, who is the Father’s Hand of Power to save all his Elect? Believers are in Christ’s Hand, and Christ is the Father’s Hand, yea the Father’s Right Hand: the Power and Glory of all the Divine Attributes are united together in Christ; herein they shew the Perfection of their Strength, and are all exerted in the Salvation of every Believer; therefore it is impossible one of them should perish. In the uniting of all the Attributes of God together doth the strength of God appear to save. And in this respect Believers are in God’s Hand, God is concerned to see the Salvation of his People perfected by Christ as Mediator; who is, as so considered, his Right Hand, or the Greatness of his Power, or the Perfection of his Power and strength. 

Secondly, To proceed; as they are in the Father’s Hand, so he hath, you heard, put them into Christ’s Hand as their great Sponsor, Mediator and Surety; and that before the World began, in that Covenant and Blessed Compact the Father and Son entered into, in order to the eternal Salvation of all his Saints: And the Holy God hath fixed on such Ways and Means, and in such manner, that the Thing designed cannot miscarry. Men indeed may miss of their Ends they aim at; but what is directly in the Hand of God, [page 275] and is put by him into the Hand of his Son, to effect and finally to accomplish, shall never miscarry, it being, as I have told you, done according to his eternal Counsel. God’s Absolute Purpose shall stand, let it be what it will; much more that Grand Purpose and Design of his, of saving all true Believers by Jesus Christ. 

First, There is a proof of it already as to Matter of Fact: Many thousand of the Soul of his Elect are gone to Heaven, in spight of Sin, Hell, Death, World and Devils. 

Secondly, In the Salvation of Believers by Christ, all Interests concerned are secured. 

(1.) God is Just, and herein he declares his Justice with a Witness. And, 

(2.) Yet the Sinner is justified. 

(3.) Venice hath to the full took hold of Sin. And yet, 

(4.) Mercy is magnified to the highest Degree in saving the Sinner: Justice is satisfied, and yet the Sinner is forgiven. 

(5.) The Law of God hath its full and just Sanction; and the Violence offered to it is retrived. 

(6.) And Jesus Christ who did all this, in beholding his Seed and Fruit of his Soul, and their eternal Blessedness secured for ever, is well pleased and fully satisfied. 

Thirdly, The way of accomplishing this Design, is such as will certainly compass the End, Divine Power being engaged in it, which resteth not in the least on the Concourse or Compliance of any frustrable Instruments; nay every Attribute being hereby magnified, they join hand in hand for the effecting of it. 

Fourthly, No Power can supersede God’s Decree, nor obstruct Jesus Christ in his compleating the While of his Work: I will work, and who shall let? And again it is said, He shall bring forth Judgment unto Victory [Isa. 42:3]. He shall not fail nor be discouraged: The Pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his Hand [Isa. 53:10]. And seeing then that the Final Accomplishment of the Salvation of every Believer is put into Christ’s Hand, for a farther Demonstration how this tends to secure them all from Danger, and to preserve them to Eternal Life, 

Take here a short Induction of Particulars. 

1. Consider the Nature of that Covenant, by virtue of which all the Elect are put into Christ’s Hand: It is a Covenant made and entered into by the Son as Mediator with the Father; not only to redeem and purchase Life for them, and to infuse Life in them, but to preserve them in a State of Life, so that none of God’s [page 276] Covenant-Children might depart from him any more for ever, which the first Covenant failed in; and therefore God found fault with that, or rather with them with whom it was made, who failed in continuing their Obedience thereunto, but sinned, and fell from God. Now say I, God to prevent the like again, hath entered into a New Covenant with his Son for us, which is so well ordered in all things, and sure, as that not one Soul shall ever eternally miscarry that is comprehended therein. O remember that this Covenant was the Result of Infinite Wisdom, as well as it resulted from inconceirable Love and Goodness in God; and it was to frustrate and destroy the Works of the Devil for ever, so that he might never have Cause to insult over the Majesty of God, in getting out of his Hand one Soul that he designed in his Eternal Counsel to make happy, and save for ever. 

2. Consider, Jesus Christ to this End, in this Covenant, hath took all that the Father gave unto him into his Hand as their Surety. Pray consider, all Believers are thus in the Hand of Christ: Hence he is called the Surety of a better Covenant[Heb. 9:22]. He is their great Sponsor; if any be lost, he must answer for them. Let me read that Text in 1 Kings 20. I shall only allude to it to clear up this Matter the better to weak Capacities; Thy Servant went out into the midst of the Battel, and behold, a Man turned aside, and brought a Man unto me, and said, Keep this Man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy Life go for his Life [1 Kings 20:39]. I know this was spoken by the Prophet parabolically, yet it may serve to shew you the Nature of Suretiship, where one engageth for another, or for others. Thus Judah became Surety to his Father for Benjamin; I will be Surety for him; of my Hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever [Gen. 43:9]. Reuben also became Surety for Benjamin; And Reuben spake unto his Father, saying, Slay my two Sons if I bring him not to thee, and deliver him into thy Hand [Gen. 42:37]. This was more indeed than was required of him, or that his Father Jacob could accept of without Sin, had he failed. But O see the Nature of Suretiship; Jesus Christ hath taken all his Saints into his Hand, as their Surety to the Father; and God hath accepted him in this Case, and looks for them all at his Hand; the Father substituted him, not to be a Shepherd only, but a Surety also. 

3. And let it be considered, that Jesus Christ became not our surety to pay our Debts, or to satisfy for our Sins which we stood charged with before our Conversion, but also for all our Sins after [page 277] we believe: his Blood was a plenary Satisfaction for all; so that Christ says (as it were) to the Father, as Judah to Jacob, I thy Servant am become Surety for these, and every one of these that thou hast given to me; and if I bring them not to thee, and set them not before thee in Heaven, then let me bear the blame for ever. Or he may say, as Paul speaketh concerning his Son Onesimus; If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on my Account. I Paul have written it with my own Hand, I will repay it, &c [Philem. 18, 19]. Thus Christ may say, Father, charge the Sins, the Debts that my Saints have, and shall commit, to me, I will be accountable for them: And indeed he hath already done it, once for all; and not only so, but to bring them all to Heaven, and this in a most high and sublime Covenant and Holy Compact he made with the Father before the World began: therefore not one Soul of them can perish. 

4. Consider also, that in pursuit of this Covenant and Suretiship, Jesus Christ hath suffered Death, spilt his own precious Blood, which the Father doth accept of as their full Discharge: and shall any once suppose that one Soul of his People for whom he thus struck Hands and died for, and took into his Care and Charge, shall eternally miscarry? 

5. Consider, that as they are in Christ’s Hands, and he hath suffered Death for them, and in their stead, so also, that the Merits of his Blood might become effectual to them, he is every ways fitted, endowed and qualified with all things whatsoever that is necessary, in order to his actual Discharge of this great Trust he hath taken upon him. 

(1.) He hath received the Spirit without measure, to the end he might have that and all Grace that is needful, to communicate to every one of his Saints as he sees necessary for them; and it is laid up in his Hand, not given all at once to them; but they shall have all their Wants supplied according to his Riches in Glory. 

(2.) He hath Wisdom enough also, for he is Wisdom it self [Phil. 4:19]. 

(3.) He is clothed with Power also; he is a Saviour, a great One: Pray hear what he himself saith; I that speak in Righteousness, mighty to save [Isa. 63:1]. All Power is given to me in Heaven and Earth, &c [Matt. 28:18, 19]. He cannot fail for want of Power as Mediator, let the States or Straits of any Soul of his, be what they will, or of any that redie upon him or come unto him; Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost, all that come to God by him [Heb. 7:25]. Nay, and this Power is given to him to this very end, namely, not only to quicken and renew them, but also to perfect Holiness in them, and to bring [page 278] them to Heaven at last: As thou hast given him Power over all flesh, that he should give eternal Life to as many as thou hast given him [John 17:2]. 

6. Consider the strict Charge the Father hath given to Christ, as he hath put all Believers into his Hand. 

(1.) A Charge to redeem them; he laid down his Life as the Father commanded him. 

(2.) See that in Isa. 49. 9. That thou mayst say to the Prisoners, Go forth; and to them that are in Darkness, Shew your selves. He had a Charge to call his Elect out of the Grave of Sin, and to knock off their Fetters, to open their Eyes, and to heal their Wounds. 

(3.) He hath a Charge to lead them: For he that hath Mercy on them shall lead them, even by the Spring of the Waters shall he guide them [Isa. 49:10]. Christ hath the Conduct of these redeemed Captives, which we have fully proved by his being called a Shepherd.

(4.) He hath received a Charge to receive all the Father hath given him; and those that come unto him, he saith, he will in no wise cast out [John 6:37]. And this he doth not only out of his own Affections and Bowels to all such poor Sinners, but also as in discharge of his Office, as all are put into his Hand. 

(5.) He hath received also a Charge to perfect that good Work that he hath begun in them: The bruised Reed shall he not break, and the smoaking Flax shall he not quench, till he hath brought forth Judgment unto Victory [Matt. 12:20]. He will carry on that Work in the Soul till it is compleated; He shall do this, saith the Father, this is part of his Work and Office which he hath accepted of: And our Savour takes notice of this thing as his Father’s Will and Charge given unto him; And this is the Father’s Will that sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last Day [John 6:39]. My Father sent me to cherish and take care of the poorest and weakest Soul that he hath given me, and to see that none of them be lost; I must, as if he should say, strengthen their Faith, subdue their Corruptions, and never leave them till I present them all before my Father, without spot, at the last Day. 

(6) He must give an Account of them also at the last Day, and he will present them all without Blame before the Father, in Love, and say, Behold, here am I, and the Children which thou gavest me, none of them are lost. 

7. Consider in what Relation all Believers stand unto him in, as well as he hath them in his Hand; they are his Brethren, nay [page 279] more, his Seed, his Off-spring, his own Children begotten, and born of his own Spirit; they are the Members of his own mystical Body, his own Spouse, yea, of his Body, of His flesh, and of his Bone: and will not this, think you, greatly move him, excite and stir up his tender Heart to hold them fast in his Hand, and keep them from perishing? 

8. Consider his Faithfulness; is it look’d upon as one of the worst Blots any mortal can have upon him, to betray his Trust, or not to discharge it with all care and faithfulness, especially where the Life of a Person is concerned? And shall not our Lord Jesus faithfully discharge his Trust? Will he fail any poor Believer under Temptation, or leave him to the Power of Sin and Satan, when the Life of the Soul is concerned? O what is the Natural Life of the Body, to the eternal Life of the Soul? Now are all the Godly put into Christ’s Hand, and hath he accepted of this Trust, viz. to keep all the Father hath given him unto Everlasting Life, and not suffer the Soul of any one to be lost, and will he not be faithful? O how faithful hath he been to the Father in all things, and to the Soul of those that are already safely landed on the other side of the Grace; and will he not be as faithful to all that yet remain in this lower World? Alas, he knows how weak and frail we are, and that without him we can do nothing: He is faithful, and will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able; and will also with the Temptation make way for our escape, that we may be able to bear it [1 Cor. 10:13]. For in that himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted [Heb. 2:18]: He has a Fellow-feeling of our Infirmities, and hath Compassion of the Ignorant, and such that are out of the Way [Heb. 5:1–2]. 

9. Consider of the Greatness of that Love he hath to all that are in his Hand, or are committed to his Charge, which I have already spoken unto. 

10. Consider what he says in my Text, take notice of his Resolution, and Purpose of his Soul; Neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand.

Quest. What is meant by any?

Answ. The World shall not, the Devil shall not; the flesh shall not, Sin shall not, Temptation shall not. Prosperity shall not Adversity shall not, Death shall not; no Enemy whatsoever shall be able to pluck them out of my Hand, viz.

1. They shall not break that Union there is between me and them, but it shall abide indissolvable for ever. 

[page 280] 2. None shall be able to remove my Love from them; I will love them still, love them to the end. 

3. None shall cause me to cast them off, or throw them out of the Covenant into which I have brought them. 

4. Neither shall any be able to do it; they shall not be able by force to do it, nor by Flattery to doit, I will keep them, and safely protect them: The Enemy will attempt to do it, (as if our Savour should say) they will strive, they will pluck and pull, and do what they can to get them out of my Hand; but, says he, they shall not do it: Reproaches, Persecution, Poverty, Hunger, Nakedness, Peril nor Sword, these, nor any of these, shall ever be able to pluck them out of my Hand. 

[In what respect the Saints are said to be in Christ’s Hand.] Thirdly, I shall now shew you in what respect, the Saints may be said to be in the Hand of Christ, or under what considerations. I shewed you at first, in opening our Text, that he hath a sevenfold hold of them, which is held forth in part in the Sacred Scripture, by several Tropical Allusions. 

1. They are (as you have heard again and again) in his Hand, by virtue of his Covenant which he made with the Father; so that they are in his Hand, As when a Man makes a Bargain to do such or such a piece of Work, which he ingageth and promiseth he will go through with, and will not cease until he has perfected it. Now upon this Account we say, that Work is in his Hand: And thus Christ hath undertaken the Work of our Salvation; we, and that Work of Grace in us are in his Hand, and he will perform it, and perfect it before he hath done. 

2. God the Father hath given us into Christ’s Hand, we are in his Hand by the Father’s gracious Resignation; and he hath accepted of the Trust, Care and Charge of us, as our only Sponsor and Blessed Trustee, to pay our Debts and supply all our Wants. 

3. We are in Christ’s Hand, as Sheep are in the Hand of a Shepherd, to feed, lead, and preserve us, and defend us from all Enemies. 

4. As a Bride is in the Hand of the Bridegroom, to love, comfort, cherish, and delight in us; even so Believers are in Christ’s Hand. 

5. We are in his Hand, as a blind Man is put into the Hand and Care of a faithful Guide, to lead, protect, and save in the midst of all Dangers; and he hath promised to guide us by his Spirit into all Truth [John 16:13]: And I will bring the Blind by a Way that they [page 281] knew not, I will lead them in Paths that they have not known: I will make Darkness Light before them, and croaked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them [Isa. 42:16]. 

6. They are in his Hand, as little Babes are in the Hand of a tender Mother or faithful Nurse, to feed and preserve, bear up in his Arms, and protect from all Dangers. 

They are in Christ’s Hand, as Subjects are in the Hand of a faithful Sovereign; yea, such Subjects that are his own Children and beloved Favourites, that he keeps company with, and delights to honour. 

8. They are in Christ’s Hand, as a Patient is in the Hands of a wise, able, and faithful Physician, whom he hath undertaken to cure of all Diseases whatsoever.

9. As a Garden is in the Hand, and under the Care of a skilful and painful Gardiner, who is to plant it, to weed it, so water it, and to watch it Day and Night; or as a Vineyard is in the Hand of a Vine-dresser. 

10. They are in his Hand, as a Ship sent out to Sea in a Storm between Rocks and Sands, which is committed into the Hand of a skilful Pilot to steer and preserve from Danger. 

But pray observe, Christ exceeds all Covenant-Servants; they may be unfaithful, or negligent, or want Wisdom or Power to do what they undertake; but in none of these things he can, nor will fail: he exceeds all Shepherds; they may lose a Sheep, do what they can, a Lion may tear it from them; but so they cannot from Christ, as I formerly shewed you. He exceeds all Bridegrooms, others may cool in their Affections, or want Wisdom, or Wealth to inrich, or Power to save their Spouse; but so doth not Jesus Christ to his People that he hath betroched unto himself. He exceeds all Physicians; others may not know the Cause of some Distempers, nor how to cure them, or may want Care or Tenderness: but so doth not Jesus Christ, he knows the Causes of all our Sicknesses, and wants no Skil, Care, nor Tenderness, in order to heal all his Children, whatever their Diseases may be. He exceeds all Guide; they may let go their hold, or gaze about and let the Blind fall into a Pit and perish: But so will not he, he holds them fast, and will not let his hold go, he hath faster hold of us than we have of him: When David’s hold was near gone, and his Steps well nigh slipt, yet nevertheless (saith he) I am continually with thee, thou hast holden me by my right Hand [Psal. 73:22–23]. Christ exceeds all Mother’s; Can a Woman forget her sucking Child, that she should [page 282] not have compassion on the Son of her Womb? Yea, they may forget, yet Isa. 49. 15, will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the Palms of my Hands, thy Walls are continually before me [Isa. 49:15–16]. Christ exceeds all Kings on Earth; for he to make his Subjects Rich, became poor himself. Others may take an Offence against their very Favourites, though Children, and turn them out of all Places of Honour, and utterly degrade them: But so will not he. Christ exceeds all Gardiners or Vine-dressers; a Drought may come and spoil a Garden or Vineyard, let the Dresser do what he can; or through his carelesness Weeds may overrun and utterly spoil it: But he hath promised to prevent the Danger of Drought [Jer. 17:8]; his People shall then not cease bearing fruit, Sin shall not have domination over them: those Weeds shall never spoil his Garden. Christ exceeds all Earthly Pilots; they may lose a Ship in a Storm let them do what they can, it may be drove either upon Rocks or Sands: But Jesus Christ hath the command of the Wind, the Wind and Sea obey him; he can lay any Storm that may arise in the Soul at his Pleasure, and save from all Rocks of Presumption, or Sands of Despair. O happy Soul that art in Christ’s Hand, be thou whosoever thou wilt! 

11. Believers are in Christ’s Hand as an Inheritance or Habitation, which he hath bought and purchased for himself, and hath taken actual possession of: or as Jewels or choice Treasurer is in the Hand of the owner; even so are the Saints in Christ’s Hand. Brethren, what will not a Man do to keep and preserve his Right, or his Riches? True, Thieves may notwithstanding get all he hath from him, or Fire may consume it, or by Injustice it may be torn away; but Christ’s Riches, his Inheritance, his Jewels, which are his People, who are to him of an inestimable Value, there is no Theft, no Fire, or no Violence that any can use, can deprived him of the least part of; I mean, of the poorest or meanest Saint.

12. The Saints are in Christ’s Hand, as a curious Piece of Workmanship cast in a rare Mold by a skilful Artist is in his Hand, which hath cost him vast Treasure, Time and Pains, which is not fully compleated, nor can any do it in all the World but himself alone: Even thus, I say, are all Believers in Christ’s Hand, whohath cast them into the Mold of his own Likeness, whom he, as the great spiritual Artist, after infinite Cost, Time, Wisdom and Labour, hath renewed or regenerated; and none can finish or make up that Work begun in them, but himself only; nor is it by the Father put into any other Hand, but into his alone to do it. [page 283] And as the finishing any curious Piece of Workmanship is counted no small part of the Curiosity or Art, so it is here, the perfecting of the Saints is no small part of the Workmanship of God: And shall Christ leave that to the Wisdom of Man to do, or shall he suffer the loss of all his Travels, Cost and Time? For if the Work be not perfected, all is lost that ever Christ did. O think on this, you that are such rare Artists, as to venture to take Christ’s Work out of his Hand, or that say it is the Work of the Creature; for that is the Purport of your Doctrine. 

13. They are in Christ’s Hand as a great Victory is in the Hands of a prevailing Conqueror, who hath brought the Strength of his Enemies down, and there remains only some scattered Forces who Turk in Holes, which he is also concerned to root out, and finally to subdue; and should he not pursue his Conquests, (for alas, they may get Head again) all his Pains and Expence of Treasure would prove in vain: Thus I say the Soul of every Believer is in Christ’s Hand, the Body and Power of Sin is destroyed, and there only abides in them some remainders of Corruption, which none but he by his Spirit can finally vanquish, overcome. and root out for ever: And should he not pursue his Victory, all he hath done will prove fruitless and in vain; therefore be sure he will never cease, until he hath brought all his Foes, not only under his Foot, but destroyed them for ever more. 

14. They are in Christ’s Hand, as a poor Orphan is in the Hand of his Guardian, who commits himself wholly to his Care, Faithfulness and Compassion, whilst in non-age, not being able to help himself or shift for himself: Thus, I say, Believers are in the Hand of Jesus Christ, they are as poor helpless Orphans, underAge, and have every one of them chosen him to be the only Guardian and Trustee of their Soul, or have wholly committed themselves to his Care by a holy Resignation of themselves to him, to be his and no more their own for ever; and will not he be faithful, think you, to every one of them, especially considering they did it also at his Command, and by the Influence of his Spirit? Will he betray his Trust, who hath taken them into his House, and under his own Conduct, or leave them to shift for themselves? They first gave themselves to the Lord, and unto us by the Will of God [2 Cor. 8:5]. And as David saith, The Poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the Fatherless [Psal. 10:14]. He fields himself up to thee, Himself, his Matter, his Cause: And what, says he further, Thou shalt keep them, O Lord; thou shalt preserve them from [page 284] this Generation, and for ever [Psal. 12:7]. He tells us in the 5th verse, who they are, even the Poor and Needy. Brethren, this lays a great Obligation upon a Guardian when he sees what a Child, or any Person hath done in chusing him, in confiding in his Fidelity, and putting his whole Trust and Dependence in him. What Man that has a Priniple of Honesty or of Morality, will deceive or fail such a after he hath taken the sole Care and Charge of him? And Christ be more unfaithful to the Soul of his People? God forbid.

From the whole I infer. 

[The general Argument.] (1.) If all Believers are in the Father’s Hand, or under his Eternal Purpose and Counsel to save: (2.) If God’s Purposes are Immutable: (3.) If he hath not left it to any mixtures of Counsels; if he is Omnipotent, and can and will bring all his Absolute Purposes to pass: (4.) If it be fully to imagine any of his Purposes should be subjected to the Will of Man: (5.) If Christ be the right Hand of God, or in whom all his Attitutes are united to the Perfection of his Power to save Believers: (6.) If Christ also hath them all in his Hand, as God’s faithful Servant, and as their Surety or Trustee: (7.) If many of them are gone to Heaven already: (8.) If all Interests concerned in our Salvation are well pleased in Christ’s Undertaking: (9.) If the Glory of every one of the Divine Attributes are raised in the Salvation of each Believer: (10.) If Christ hath received a Charge to keep every one of them, and to lose none, as he hath promised to do: (11.) If Christ is every ways fitted to supply his Saints with all things they need or can need: And (12.) if they are all in Christ’s Hand, in all those respects I have mentioned; then it is impossible any one of them should so fall away as eternally to perish. But all this is undeniable true; therefore not one of them can so fall away as eternally to perish. 

I should make some Improvement of this, but having but one Argument to add to prove the Proposition, I shall leave the Application to the last, wherein I shall shew you how Christ doth preserve his Saints in a way of Holiness and Obedience unto Eternal Life.